Quercus. 



AMENTACEiE. 255 



a four lobed prickly involucre. Perianth single, urceolate, 

 with 4 — 5 minute lobes. Germ ens incorporated with the 

 perianth, 3-celled, two becoming abortive. Styles three. 

 Nuts 1-seeded, invested with the enlarged involucre.— Name; 

 0«7o.?, in Greek, from (pur/w, to eat, on account of the nutri- 

 tive qualities of the fruit. Monozcia. Polyandria. 



1. F. sylvatica, Linn. Beech-tree. Leaves ovate, glabrous, 

 obsoletely dentate, their margins ciliated. Br. Fl. 1. p- 408. 

 E. FL v. iv. p. 152. E. Bot. t. 1846. 



Woods, scarcely indigenous. Fl. April, May. F? . — The tree bears 

 clipping or scutching very well, and is frequently used for hedges, 

 where shelter is the object, and then retains the leaves throughout the 

 winter. The wood is employed for various purposes, by carpenters, 

 turners, and wheelwrights. Swine feed upon the seeds or masts. 



2. Castanea. Tourn. Chesnut. 



Barren fl. in a very long cylindrical catkin. Perianth single, 

 of one leaf, G-cleft. Stamens 5 — 20. Fertile Jl. three, within 

 a 4-lobed, thickly muricated involucre. Perianth single, ur- 

 ceolate, 5 — 6 lobed, having the rudiments of twelve stamens. 

 Germen incorporated with the perianth, 6-celled, each cell 

 2-seeded, five of the cells mostly abortive. Styles six. Nut 

 1 — 2-seeded, invested with the enlarged involucre. — Named 

 from Castanea in Thessaty, which produced magnificent 

 Chesnut trees. Monozcia. Polyandria. 



1. C. vulgaris, Lam. Spanish Chesnut. Leaves oblongo- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, mucronato-serrate, glabrous on each 

 side. Br. Fl. 1. p. 408. — Fagus castanea, Linn. — E. Fl. v. iv. 

 p. 151. E. Bot. t. 886. 



Woods and Parks, but not indigenous. Fl. May. T? . — This fine 

 tree is much cultivated, both for ornament and its valuable timber. 

 Full arown specimens may be seen at Shelton Abbey, and other places 

 in the County of Wicklow. The Chesnut ripens its fruit, near Dublin, 

 late in autumn. 



3. Quercus. Linn. Oak. 



Barren Jl. in a lax catkin or spike. Perianth single, 5 — 7-cleft. 

 Stamens 5 — 10. Fertile Jl. Involucre of many little scales, 

 united into a cup. Perianth single, closely investing the 

 germen, 6-toothed. Germen 3-celled. Style one. Stigmas 

 three. Nut (or acorn) 1-celled, 1-seeded, covered by the 

 persistent, enlarged perianth, and surrounded at the base by 

 the enlarged cup-shaped involucre. — Named from the Celtic 

 qner, beautiful, and cuez, a tree. It produced the Misseltoe 

 of the Druids, and was thence also called drew ; hence hpvs, 

 in Greek, and Dryades. Monozcia. Polyandria. 



1. Q. Robur, Linn. Common British Oak. Leaves deci- 



